Vacation Rentals in Louisiana

Louisiana is the perfect place to take in traditional southern American cuisine. Creole food is uniquely influenced by French, African, Spanish, and Native American cultures. These days, classic dishes are served up abundance, and fresh seafood is always the star of the show. The Gulf of Mexico lends a hand in providing some of America's best shrimp, crawfish, and oysters.

Despite their very different origins, the one thing Cajun and Creole food have in common is spice. Famous dishes such as gumbo and etouffee can be found in most restaurants, and have a well earned reputation for their soul food appeal. More exotic offerings typically include raw oysters, and even rattlesnake or alligator. No trip to the state is complete without a post-dinner chicory coffee, and a big plate of hot beignets.

Everyone in your family will enjoy a visit to the Global Wildlife Center in Folsom. It allows you to closely interact with animals such as giraffes, zebras, camels, and llamas in a fun and educating way. New Orleans' Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium , North America’s largest museum dedicated to insects, is another place for up close natural encounters. You'll learn about the ecosystems of various bugs and butterflies through various live presentations.

Just down the street, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas will take you through its underwater world. Your family will marvel at the exotic aquatic life here that includes sharks, stingrays, parakeets, and sea turtles, as you travel on a walk-through tunnel. Gators and Friends in Greenwood provides more riveting experiences, like its collection of native alligators. It's both an exotic zoo and adventure park where you can also feed and pet kangaroos, emus, ostriches, and deer.

New Orleans' Jackson Square is a bustling place packed with street painters, musicians, and jugglers showcasing their crafts to visitors. The large statue of General Jackson makes for a good photo opportunity. Catch views of the Mississippi River nearby as you take a walk around the streets of the French Quarter. You can't miss taking a break, including coffee and beignets, at the legendary Café du Monde. You can also enjoy the scene in neighboring Riverfront Park, as the gentle river breeze charges you up for another round of sightseeing.

Once a year, the streets of every Louisiana city transform into the world famous Mardi Gras festival. Originally intended to celebrate the start of the Catholic month of lent, this carnival is a week long excuse to drink, dance, wear costumes, and most importantly feast. The nightly parades feature massive floats and processions, and of course an opportunity to catch some free souvenirs which are tossed into the crowd.

Tourists from all over the world flock to the state's southernmost cities for the parades and street parties leading up to Fat Tuesday. This final night of revelry is the last chance to indulge in earthly vices before Ash Wednesday. Street vendors hawking food, drinks, and trinkets can be found everywhere late into the evening. When the party ends at midnight, local police symbolically clear the streets and announce the start of the fast.

Louisiana is well known for its beautifully preserved wetlands. Fed by bayous and backwaters, these estuaries are home to countless bird and reptile species. Habitats range from vast swamps and marshes to salt flats and savannahs. Bird watchers, photographers, and fishermen flock to this southern state all hoping to spot some of the unique wildlife found in the area.

Numerous wildlife reserves around the state offer tours by comfortable fan boat or canoe to observe American alligators and migratory birds in their natural habitats. Airboat Adventures, based just outside of New Orleans offers excellent value for a full day tour. Thanks to the subtropical climate, other native species include pythons, tree frogs, and even carnivorous plants! Most wetlands are bordered by prairies and pine woods which are perfect for hiking and mountain biking.